OHSU-developed brain surgery simulator proves valuable in nationwide test

Akin to pilots training on pre-flight simulators, new simulator for brain surgeons appears to be feasible on a large scale

By Erik Robinson November 17, 2022 Portland, Oregon

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Brain surgery simulator

OHSU medical resident Dominic Siler, M.D., Ph.D, sets up the simulator as Nathan Selden, M.D., Ph.D., Campagna Professor and chair of neurological surgery at OHSU, watches, August 4, 2017. The simulator hardware and software were designed by Siler and resident Daniel Cleary, M.D., Ph.D., under the guidance of Selden. (OHSU/Kristyna Wentz-Graff)

Brain surgery simulator

A brain surgery simulator developed at OHSU allows doctors to gain experience without risking the lives of patients. The simulated model includes a brain, skull and dural membrane, and is produced using a 3-D printer.(OHSU/Kristyna Wentz-Graff)

Brain surgery simulator

OHSU medical resident Stephen Bowden, M.D., (left) prepares for a simulated brain surgery exercise at OHSU, look on, August 4, 2017. The brain surgery simulator model created at OHSU allows new surgeons like Bowden to gain experience without risking a patient's life. (OHSU/Kristyna Wentz-Graff)

Brain surgery simulator

OHSU medical resident Dominic Siler, M.D., Ph.D, sets up the simulator as first-year neurosurgery resident Stephen Bowden, M.D., (center) and Nathan Selden, M.D., Ph.D., Campagna Professor and chair of neurological surgery at OHSU, look on, August 4, 2017. A brain surgery simulator model created at OHSU allows new surgeons like Bowden to gain experience without risking a patient's life. (OHSU/Kristyna Wentz-Graff)

Brain surgery simulator

OHSU medical resident Dominic Siler, M.D., Ph.D, (left) participates in a simulated brain surgery exercise at OHSU, August 4, 2017. The brain surgery simulator model created at OHSU allows new surgeons like Bowden to gain experience without risking a patient's life. (OHSU/Kristyna Wentz-Graff)

Nathan Selden, M.D., Ph.D. (OHSU)

Residents nationwide training on OHSU-developed brain surgery simulator

Nathan Selden, M.D., Ph.D., watches as first-year neurosurgery resident Stephen Bowden, M.D., practices brain surgery techniques, Aug. 4, 2017, at OHSU. A brain surgery simulator developed at OHSU allows doctors to gain experience without risking the lives of patients. The simulator is now being used as a training tool throughout the U.S., according to a recent study. (OHSU/Kristyna Wentz-Graff)